Stretcher and the like.



N. c. AMPT.

STHETCHER AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.28. I914.

1,150,008. Patented Aug. 17, 1915..

' and provide for the taking up of stretch-.

" ss'rarns Arena orrion.

, NORMAN oRosLAND AMPT, or sr. KILDA, vIoroR-Ia, AUSTRALIA.

STRETCI-IER AND THE LIKE.

menace.

Patented Aug. 17,1915.

Application filed August 28, 1914; Serial No. 859,101.

the invention, such as will enable others. skilledin the art to which itappertains to make and use the same. 7

My invention relates. to a stretcher or the. like which isto besuspended for use, and which can be collapsed to occupy small.

. space, for-portability, or to allow the saved space to be used. Theparts can be readily disassembled, and a number of them areinterchangeable. The stretcher can be sus-. pended either indoors or inthe open. air,

from any convenient support, as a ceiling, rafters, posts, trees,brackets, wall hooks or eyes, or so on.

This invention will be useful in barracks,

hospitals, dwelling houses, and generally. The tension produced bysuspension straps is such as to help to keep my stretcher taut,

ing and bulging of the canvas or other material hereinafter termed themattress. The stretcher has side rails and end rails and the latter arepivoted to one of the side rails. When in folded positions these endrails become longitudinal. The construction includes other details andmay be according to the accompanying drawings, but is not lim-' itedthereto in minor respects. Various-accessories known to be useful inconnection with beds or stretchers may be added, and are notillustrated.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my stretcher with part brokenaway. Fig. 2 shows its rails which are seen tobe, at one end, closed andstrapped together. Figs. 3 and 4 are side elevations, and Fig. 5 is aplan view,-showing details which are explained later.

a, b, are the side or longitudinal rails.

0, (Z, are the end rails. The latter are connected pivotally toand undera side rail a, as by bolts 6, f. The rail Z) rests on the end railsloosely but is keptin place by suspen looped to inclose these rails;this sheet is connected to the end rails as by adjustable I straps '9passing through eyelets g in sheet 9. Cords g or the like extend to atransverse piece g when it is desired to keep pillows, or bedding fromfalling overthe end of the stretcher. r

I provide means tolimitrotation of rail b; for example screw g uthroughan eyelet in sheet 9.. This rail has at each end one or more stops 5*,which thus retain about their normal positions, for a reason which willbe apparent shortly.

The suspension means is shown as a combination of strapsiand cords. Thusthe bases of cords Z, Z are shown above rail a, and the bases of cords7c, above rail 6, and I provide these cords with means for lengthadjustment to regulate when re.- quired the" height of the stretcherabove the ground or floor. j are straps on hooks j which engage eyes. ofbolts 6, and these straps engage D-rings or the like, which are engagedby eyes j or the like at the bases of cords Z, Z 7'? aresleeves, adaptedto be pressed down to tighten cords Z, Z on the eyes f When raised thesesleeves loosen is the cords so that they can be adjusted to tion such asa flange, collar or as shown the pegs b and each strap it may bearagainst a peg while it also presses the side rail outward (see Fig. 4)and pulls the end rail (see Fig. 5) so as to tend to stretch the,mattress in the directions indicated by arrows. Should, therefore, therebe a tendency by reason of weight on the mattress g, for rail Z) to bedrawn toward rail a, that tendency will evidently meet with resistance,and in practice I find that sheet 9 is kept taut enough for comfort, andis thus unlike ordinary stretchers. The stops 3)" are located on theoverlapping side rail 6 toward the ends thereof and beyond the end railsc and d, and act or serve as guiding means for .directing the upwardlead of the straps h thus enabling a pulling force to be exerted on theend rails, and these stops further act as retaining or guarding means tokeep the straps from being too easily detached.

1 To collapse the stretcher the straps h are movedclear of rail 1),which I push up to rail 0;. These straps are disconnected from the partsabove them, and then the two end rails can be swung under the rail (1,and can be strapped as shown in part of Fig. :2. The space under rail (1which is preserved by the distance members 0* then allows part of thesheet mattress 9, when in collapsed position to be located between raila, and the longitudinally set end rails. It is not essential thatthestraps 71. and the parts above them to which they are connected shallextend at those angles which happen'to be illustrated. The means whichprevent articles falling off the stretcher may be located between thesuspension members on whatever ends or sides protection is desired.

Having described this invention, what is claimed by Letters Patent ofthe United States is 1. A stretcher or the like, having a pair of endrails and a pair of side rails, each 'end rail being pivoted to one ofthe side rails, suspending means for the pivoted ends of said end rails:and their complementary side rail, andqsupporting straps or the likeconnected to the opposite ends of said end rails, and bearing againstthe copies'of this patent may be obtained for inner surface of the otherside rail, so as to locate the latter, substantially as described.

2. A stretcher or the like, having a pair of end rails and a pair ofside rails, each end rail being connected toward one end to one of theside rails, and the other of said side rails having its ends restingloosely upon and overlapping the free ends of said end rails, a mattressof foldable material se cured to said rails; suspending means for thepivoted ends of said end rails and their complementary side rail,guiding means on said'overlapping side rail, located toward the endsthereof and beyond said end rails, flexible members connected to saidend rails toward the outer free ends thereof, and adapted to extendupwardly, in engagement with said guiding means, on the outside surfacesof said end rails and the inside surface of said overlapping side rail,and suspension means connected to the free ends of said flexiblemembers, the whole operating to cause the overlapping side rail to bepressed and the end rails to be pulled to tauten the mattress whenbearing weight, substantially as described.

8. In a stretcher a rail onone side. having pivotal connections to endrails, and on the other side a rail resting on the end rails, suspensionmembers connected to the end rails, stops for the said members on theside rail last mentioned, a mattress attached to the siderails andconnected by adjustable means to the end rails, means to limit rotationof the side rail last mentioned, and connections between suspensionmembers to prevent articles falling off the stretcher.

.In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

NORMAN OROSLAND AMPT- Witnesses: V A

BEATRICE M. Lown, MARGARET J. DEY.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. Q.

